BRITISH GOODS ABROAD

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19532, 13 March 1926, Page 3

BRITISH GOODS ABROAD

FOREIGN IMITATIONS. Complaints has frequently been made that foreign goods arc disguised as British manufactures. Writing to the “Tinies" from Fisa, Mr C. K. Scott Moncrieff gives two instances of such efforts to parade foreign wares as genuinely British. He says: — The recommendtion to “buy British goods’’ is not lost, upon foreign manufacturers, who. however, often go lamentably wrong in their attempts to guarantee the genuineness of their wares. Last winter J remember noticing in a shop window in the Corso of Pisa a very presentable camelhair waistcoat, on the inside of which was sewn a label: “Englisch AVaiscoots: Last Fashion." To this the vendor had confidingly attached a pasteboard ticket with the price ami the words “Vero inglese." This winter I have had a far more remarkable experience. In the historic Ussero caffe, immortalised by Giusti, I noticed in a diminishing row of bottles of “Black and White" .whisky, two that bore the unfamiliar name “W. Houdson and C.’’ Apart from this name, which is in the boldest of type, the bottles closely resemble those used by “Black and White,” but an examination of the labels shows them to be inscribed: (1) Furnischers of H.M. the King. (2) Scotch W’hisky: special blend of choice old Scotch whisky. W. Houdson I and C.. Scotch whisky distillers, London ami Glasgow. (3) Guaranteed bottled in Scotland. While the lozenge-shaped label behind bears, beneath a grotesque travesty of the Koval Arms, in which the Unicorn has become a white horse and the motto turned to “Dieu ct mom droit," the legend: “That sample who does’nt fear, for his quality, the con-rurrencc of all like products. Obtained most flattering statements by a several number of persons, compctents and for his good dost inguished taste. His excelleneie’s secret consists in a long and serious seasoning. Air Clarcke (a gentleman very competent in point of) says; ‘that Wiscky’s excellence subists for it has been warehoused during many years’. ’’ Needless to say, .1 have not examined the cork. The bottle itself is stamped AV. Houdson and C., London. I write with the full support of the proprietor |.f the Ussero, who is anxious to warn others against a trap in which he him- . self has been caught.